Headaches
Some estimates suggest that 25% of the population has a headache right now!
Because headaches are so common, some people think that getting a headache is just a normal part of life. Headaches are a sign that something is wrong.
A frequent and overlooked cause of headaches is the malfunction of spinal bones in the neck, upper back and the Cranium (skull bones). When bones of the spine lose their normal position or motion, sensitive nerves and blood vessels to the head can be affected. When spinal nerves and related tissues are stretched and irritated they can produce throbbing headaches. Aspirin and medications may cover up these warning signs, but do not correct the underlying structural cause.
Many people find relief and correction with chiropractic care. If a thorough examination reveals reduced range of motion, loss of normal spinal curves, or mechanical restrictions, chiropractic care should be considered. After a complete explanation, you'll receive a care program designed for your unique spinal problem.
Many patients report headache relief. Others find that the correction of their problem takes longer because their spinal problem has existed undetected for many years. Every patient responds differently. Regardless of how you respond, enjoy the drug-free results by choosing chiropractic, the #1 drug-free health care profession.
Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the most common consequences of auto accidents; it is estimated that 15% to 30% of car occupants will suffer neck pain. In almost all whiplash-type injuries the spine is thrown first in one direction and then is pulled in the opposite direction. The rebound can and often does cause injury to your soft tissues - muscles, ligaments, tendons and other tissues.
Whiplash can be mild to severe and can range from rapid healing to slow healing to long term chronic pain and impairment. Studies show that a large percentage of whiplash sufferers, from 50% to as much as 88%, may continue to suffer pain and some amount of disability for years after the accident.
Whiplash symptoms may start as neck soreness or stiffness, perhaps accompanied by a headache immediately or within a few hours of the accident. Along with these symptoms there may be pain and/or numbness, tingling or a pins - and - needles feeling between the shoulder blades, arm and hand. Some people may experience ear ringing, dizziness or even hearing loss. Sometimes the eyes can be affected and there may be pain behind the eyeballs, blurred vision, sensitivity to light or other visual symptoms. Occasionally, there may be running of the nose.
A concussion may accompany a whiplash. It occurs from a violent shaking of the head where the brain is thrown around against the inside of the skull. Concussion symptoms may include headache, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, moodiness, depression and emotional jitters that may last for hours or days after the accident.
Not only whiplash, but any kind of accident may cause the vertebral subluxation complex. Injuries to the joints of the spinal column may be the cause of many of the symptoms associated with whiplash injuries. Painkillers, muscle relaxers or sedatives can not restore function to the joints of the spinal column - only a trained chiropractor can remove the cause of whiplash symptoms and facilitate the healing process.
If you or someone you know has been involved in an auto accident - contact your Chiropractic Physician today.
Low Back Pain
Back pain brings more people to the chiropractor than any other single problem. Most patients who consult their chiropractor about back pain have been to another doctor in a different field of health care for the problem. Their back pain may have been diagnosed as sciatica, slipped disc, lumbago, arthritis, neuritis, pinched nerve, strain, or some other condition.
Although having a name attached to a problem can be satisfying, most patients are primarily interested in feeling better. They want their pain relieved quickly and permanently. Many patients know what brought on their back pain - they picked up a lawn mower, or fell off a ladder, or were involved in another type of accident. Many other patients may not be able to pinpoint a specific event that triggered their pain.
Often, job related stress, either physical or emotional, can bring on backaches. Lifting heavy loads improperly, repeated bending or other actions that use a particular set of muscles, or standing on concrete floors day after day are just some of the job conditions that can stress your body and lead to pain.
Family worries, financial problems, or job dissatisfaction are among the emotional stresses that can cause muscles to be constantly tense and ultimately painful.
To help identify the source of your back pain, your chiropractic doctor will conduct a thorough orthopedic and neurological examination. This may include x-rays of your spine. X-rays are very important for providing the most complete picture of the cause of your pain.
Many of the pain-sensing nerves of the spine are in the facet joints, the two interlocking "fingers" at the back of each spinal bone. The normally smooth surfaces on which these joints glide, can become rough, irritated, and inflamed. Surgical treatment often involves removing these facet joints, exposing the spinal cord.
Another cause of lower back pain can be a bulging disc putting pressure on the spinal cord or a nearby nerve root. The result is often numbness, tingling, or pain down the leg. Cutting away the bulging disc tissue, can permanently alter its ability to separate and cushion the adjacent bones. This rarely addresses the underlying structural cause(s) of the problem. The chiropractic approach is to help restore a more normal motion and position of affected spinal bones by specific chiropractic adjustments. The simplicity and success of this approach has been documented in numerous research projects and has helped many patients avoid risky surgery.
Dr. Robertson has had extensive training in the management of low back conditions. He is board certified in the treatment of these problems and his experience may keep you out of surgery.
Spinal injuries can restrict range of motion, reduce strength, slow reflexes, shorten endurance, and decrease performance. Chiropractic care for these types of injuries has become increasingly popular. Professional sports teams, Olympic trainers, and competitive athletes are employing chiropractic doctors - because they demand results.
Chiropractic care helps restore function to spinal joints that are (subluxated), "locked up", fixated, and not moving properly. Besides helping to relieve pain, chiropractic care can also help reduce inflammation. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments depend upon proper joint movement for peak performance. Injuries to these tissues can reduce range of motion, affect delicate nerves, decrease blood supply, and take you out of the game. Normalizing spinal function helps speed the healing of these soft tissues and reduce the deconditioning effect of being on the sidelines.
An aerobic exercise program or a plan of brisk walking can improve muscle tone and help you avoid strains, sprains, and other activity - restricting health problems. Whether you golf, play tennis, bicycle, or bowl, the best treatment for sports injuries is prevention!
Visit Robertson Chiropractic & Applied Kinesiology and find out if chiropractic care can restore your health, improve your performance, and increase your competitive edge.
Better Reaction Time and Coordination
Athletes under chiropractic care were compared with a control group that received no care for agility, balance, power, speed, and reaction time. After six weeks, the chiropractic group had a 10.7% improvement while the control group had a 4.5% improvement. After 12 weeks, the chiropractic group's improvement was 16.7%! The chiropractic athlete reacts faster, coordinates better, executes fine movement with improved accuracy and precision amounting to an overall better athlete. That's why 75% of the San Francisco 49ers received chiropractic care the day they won the 1990 Super Bowl.
Muscle Spasm
Since about 60% of your body is muscle and bone, it should come as no surprise that chronic pain, strain, sprain, spasm, irritation, inflammation or other musculoskeletal conditions are so common. In fact, many of the millions of people who visit their doctors of chiropractic condition called Fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia often appears in midlife, but it may be seen at any age. Millions of people suffer from it, but it mostly affects women between the age of 20 and 50.
Do your muscles feel "tight" especially in the morning? Do you always need to stretch with constant aches and pains in your neck, low back pain and hips? Do you feel old and stiff with morning fatigue, sleeping problems and many tender spots? These are the symptoms of a condition called Fibromyalgia.
Trigger Points
Trigger points are tender, sensitive areas that, when pressed, can be exquisitely painful. Trigger points may also refer pain to other areas of the body. They are common in chronic muscle spasm, myalgia, fibrositis, strain, sprain, whiplash, and other muscle/joint problems.
The Medical Approach
To standard medicine, muscle spasms, fibrositis, and trigger points are a mystery. Medical doctors have tried novacaine, procaine, and xylocaine injections; cooling sprays; muscle relaxant drugs; cortisone injections; and other drugs with less than desirable results. These are temporary, often hit - or - miss solutions. The still suffering patient is often referred to a physical therapist for heat, massage, and other modalities, again with limited success.
The Chiropractic Approach
The latest literature indicates that manipulation techniques utilized by the Doctor of Chiropractic are some of the most effective treatments for patients suffering from muscle spasm, trigger points, and fibromyalgia. At Robertson Chiropractic & Applied Kinesiology, our doctor has experience in these techniques.
Children
Children benefit from chiropractic care before they are born, by having a mother who receives prenatal chiropractic checkups. A healthy diet, proper exercise, a stress free environment, and a chiropractic lifestyle help prepare for a happy, healthy baby.
Even so-called "natural" birthing methods can stress a still developing spine. The resulting irritation to the nervous system can be the cause of many newborn health complaints. Colic, unexplained crying, poor appetite, breathing problems, and allergic reactions can often be traced to nervous system dysfunction caused by a malfunctioning spine.
Head support, followed by crawling and a baby's first few steps should be followed by chiropractic checkups. If neglected, the bumps and falls during this period of rapid growth may lead to serious spinal issues later in life. This can set the stage for scoliosis, growing pains, and a weakened immune system response. Chiropractic adjusting techniques are modified to fit a child's size, weight, and unique spinal problem. Parents often report their children seem healthier than other kids their age.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a sideways curving of the spine that often gets started in childhood, when the bones of the spine are still growing. It is thought that scoliosis is the result of a hereditary problem or an adaptation to some type of trauma, such as the birth process, or an injury, such as falling off a bicycle. It usually starts with problems in the lower back. Because spinal bones continue to grow well into the early 20s, if left uncorrected, scoliosis often worsens. Unfortunately, the most common treatment approach has been to wait and see how bad it gets, resorting to unsightly braces, or eventually surgery, if it progresses too far.
The chiropractic approach is to use the specific spinal adjustments, often combined with corrective exercises. If detected early enough, chiropractic doctors have had excellent success with scoliosis cases. Early detection and chiropractic correction is important for optimum results.
